Cushioned track with cross grousers

ABSTRACT

A resilient spacer means, such as a pneumatic rubber tire, has an endless track assembly mounted thereon. The track assembly comprises an annular and articulated link assembly positioned on each side of the spacer means to closely couple a plurality of ground engaging track shoes together. Each track shoe has a ground engaging grouser secured thereto to be disposed parallel relative to the rotational axis of the cushioned track. A cross grouser is attached to each shoe to extend substantially perpendicularly relative to the first-mentioned grouser to resist lateral sliding movement of the cushioned track during operation thereof.

United States Patent 1 Cackley et a1.

[ 51 Feb. 20, 1973 [54] CUSHIONED TRACK WITH CROSS GROUSERS [75]Inventors: George W. Cackley, Hanna City; Gary N. Heitzman, Washington;Roger L. Boggs, East Peoria; Robert N. Stedman, Chillicothe, all of I11.

[73] Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, 111.

[22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 88,808

[52] US. Cl ..305/l9, 305/54 [51] Int. Cl. ..B60c 27/20 [58] Field ofSearch ..305/54, 55, 19, 53; 152/227 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,601,212 8/1971 Petersonm.

2,273,950 2/1942 Galanot.....

2,134,559 10/1938 Junger ..305/54 1,820,743 8/1931 Honstain 1,832,92611/1931 Edstedt 3,355,225 11/1967 McDowell ..305/53 PrimaryExaminerRichard J. Johnson Attorney-Fryer, Tjensvold, Feix, Phillips &Lempio [5 7 ABSTRACT A resilient spacer means, such as a pneumaticrubber tire, has an endless track assembly mounted thereon. The trackassembly comprises an annular and articulated link assembly positionedon each side of the spacer means to closely couple a plurality of groundengaging track shoes together. Each track shoe has a ground engaginggrouser secured thereto to be disposed parallel relative to therotational axis of the cushioned track. A cross grouser is attached toeach shoe to extend substantially perpendicularly relative to thefirst-mentioned grouser to resist lateral sliding movement of thecushioned track during operation thereof.

13 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3,717. 3 a? INVENTORS GEORGE w.CACKLEY GARY N. HEITZMAN ROGER 1.. 80665 ROBERT N. STEDMAN ATTORNEYSPATENTEDFEBZWB 3.717, 387

SHEET u [1F 5 nmN m m m H 5 INVENTORS GEORGE w. CACKLEY GARY N. HEITZMANROGER L. 80603 BY ROBERT N. STEDMAN f j .77 g 9; I Z I :AT'IORNEYSPATENTED FEB2 01973 SHEET 5 BF 5 I NVENTORS GEORGE CACKLEY GARY N.HEITZMAN ROGER 'L. 50665 ROBERT N. STEDMAN ATTORNE S CUSHIONED TRACKWITII CROSS GROUSERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto a wheel of the cushioned track type which is particularly adapted foruse on land vehicles.

The present advent of cushioned track machines has facilitatedexpeditious and efficient performance of earth working operations. Undercertain operating conditions, such as side hill operations on earthhaving a hard under-surface covered with a layer of slippery mud, acushioned track vehicle may tend to slide laterally relative to itsintended direction. Paradoxically, the problem is made particularlyapparent due to the vehicles high degree of stability and agressivenessregarding the wide variety of work tasks which it is capable ofperforming.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION An object of this invention is toovercome the above, briefly described problems by providing a secondaryor cross-grousered track shoe particularly adapted for use in the trackassembly of a cushioned track. The cushioned track exhibits a highdegree of working efficiency, especially during side hill earthmovingoperations and the like, due to the ability of the crossgrousers toresist the tendancy of the cushioned track to slide laterally.

The cushioned track comprises an annular resilient spacer means mountedfor rotation about a central axis thereof and an endless track assemblymounted completely around the spacer means. The track assembly comprisesa plurality of ground engaging track shoes and annular connecting meansattached to the shoes to closely couple them together.

A primary grouser is secured exteriorly on at least some of the shoes toextend in the direction of such central axis. Such shoes further have asecondary or cross-grouser attached thereto to extend at leastapproximately perpendicular relative to the primary grouser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention willbecome apparent from the following description and accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cushioned track employing across-grouser embodiment of this invention therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of a track shoe and attached linkssub-assembly employed in the FIG. 1 cushioned track;

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of two of the FIG. 2 sub-assembliesattached together;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the FIG. 3 sub-assemblies;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial top plan and side elevation views,respectively, illustrating a modification of the FIG. 2 sub-assembly;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial top plan and side elevational views,respectively, illustrating another modification of the FIG. 2sub-assembly;

FIG. 9 is a partial top plan view illustrating another modification ofthe FIG. 2 sub-assembly;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows X-Xin FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10, but illustrating amodification thereof;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are partial isometric and end elevational views,respectively, illustrating a modified track shoe; and

FIGS. 14 and 15 are partial isometric views illustrating furthermodifications of a track shoe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a cushionedtrack 20 adapted to replace conventional tires or the like employed onstandard earthworking equipment, such as wheel-type tractors. Thecushioned track comprises an annular resilient spacer means 21 having asubstantially annular and polygonal-shaped endless track assembly 22mounted completely therearound. The resilient spacer means may comprisean air inflated rubber tire or air bag, for example, mounted on aconventional rim assembly.

Other suitable types of spacer means are disclosed in U.S. Pat.application Ser. No. 884,903, filed on Dec. 15, 1969 by Robert A.Peterson et al., for Cushioned Track and Method for Driving Same,"assigned to the assignee of this application. The rim may be suitablyconnected to a vehicles drive train (not shown) to be rotated about acentral axis X thereof by an internal combustion engine (not shown). Theillustrated tire spacer means embodiment may comprise suitablyintegrated interliner, body plies and tread plies.

The endless track assembly comprises a plurality of closely coupledground-engaging shoes 23 circumferentially surrounding the spacer means.The shoes have widths defining outboard portions extending asubstantially equal lateral distance beyond a respective side wall ofspacer means 21. An annular articulated link assembly or connectingmeans 24 is preferably connected to respective outboard portions of theshoes and in slightly spaced relationship relative to a respective sidewall of the spacer means.

The identical link assemblies may be bolted or otherwise suitablyconnected to radially inner surface portions of the outboard portions ofthe shoes to closely couple them together (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). Thesubstantially flat and uninterrupted inner surface portions of the shoesintimately contact and compress a substantial portion of the peripheryof the spacer means so that such periphery assumes a substantiallycircumferentially continuous and polygonal-shaped configuration fordriving purposes. Such driving relationship is fully described inabove-referenced U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 884,903.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a portion of the track assembly as comprisingan adjacent pair of identical links 25. Each pair of links are pivotallyconnected together for pivotal movement about a common pivot axis Y bypivot means 26. The illustrated link embodiment is of tegrally with shoe23 and cooperates with cross-grouser 31 for purposes hereinafter morefully explained.

The pivot means 26 comprises a pivot pin 33, and preferably a matingbushing, positioned substantially parallel relative to the centralrotational axis X of the cushioned track (FIG. 1) and substantiallyintermediate a respective pair of adjacent shoes connected togetherthereby. Such an arrangement facilitates a close coupling of the shoestogether and also permits the grousers to move into contact with theground at the formed footprint in a substantially smooth anduninterrupted manner. In addition, the shoes are permitted to completelymask the periphery of the spacer means for protection and anti-dirtinfiltration purposes.

It should be further noted in FIGS. 1 and 4 that curved first and secondlugs 34 and 35 are formed integrally with each shoe at respectivelength-wise ends thereof. The complementary lugs function in conjunctionwith the disposition of pin 33 to completely mask each other duringrotation of the cushioned track. In particular, first lug 34 of one shoewill substantially underlie the covering second lug 35 of an adjacentshoe to protect the spacer means against damage and to prevent dirtinfiltration during all phases of machin operation.

Although one primary grouser 32 is illustrated in the preferredembodiments, it should be understood that two or more such grousers maybe employed thereon in suitably spaced relationship. The grouser extendsradially outwardly from the track shoe and fully across the widththereof. The grouser is also preferably positioned closely adjacent topivot means 26 to induce a smooth transition of the track assembly andrelated desiderata at the formed footprint during rotation of thecushioned track over the ground.

In the grouser embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, both primary grouser32 and secondary or crossgrousers 31 are tapered in a direction radiallyoutwardly from the shoe to facilitate penetration during operation ofthe cushioned track. In addition, the primary grouser is preferablyslightly higher than the secondary grouser (FIG. 4) to assure that thesecondary grouser will not unduly interfere with the normal forward andreverse movement of the cushioned track which is primarily occasioned bythe primary grousers. Secondary grouser 31 may be disposed perpendicularrelative to the primary grouser, or at least approximately so, asillustrated by the approximate seventy degree disposition illustrated inFIG. 3.

Secondary grouser 31 extends at least half-way and preferablysubstantially fully across the length of flat outer surface portions 36of the shoe, between primary grouser 32 and lug 35. The substantialheight and length of a secondary grouser provides a substantialbroadside area or surface area means for preventing the cushioned trackand attached vehicle from slipping sideways. As mentioned above, theillustrated primary and secondary grouser combination is particularlyuseful on side hill earth working operations wherein the footingvissomewhat unstable.

An absence of secondary grousers 31 might result in inducing thecushioned track vehicle to skate sideways down the side of a hill on thetips of primary grousers 32. A conventional track-type vehicle does notnormally face such a problem due to the larger number of by an a. A likenumbering procedure is used for the 31f is disposed in perpendicularrelationship relative to further described embodiments of FIGS. 7-15,but with the numerals appearing therein being accompanied by successivelower case letters b through g.

In the FIGS. 5 and 6 embodiment, two aligned bolt means 29a attach asupport means or plate 300 to each track shoe 23a and an underlying link25a. A cross grouser 31a is disposed perpendicularly relative to primarygrouser 32a and in parallel relationship to an imaginary line connectingaligned bolt means 290. As illustrated in FIG. 5, such cross-grouser maythus be placed closely adjacent to a free edge of the track shoe or maybe reversed thereon to place the cross-grouser substantially inboardthereof.

The FIGS. 7 and 8 embodiment comprises a support means or plate 30battached to a track shoe 23b and an underlying link 25b by means ofthree bolt means 29!). Laterally spaced and parallel cross-grousers 31band 31b are secured to opposite ends of the plate and disposedperpendicularly relative to primary grouser 32b.

The FIGS. 9 and 10 embodiment discloses a cross grouser 31c attached toconically shaped and spaced support 300. The support means are in turnattached directly to a flat portion 360 of track shoe 23:: by means ofrivets 290 or the like. Links 250 may be independently secured to theunderside of the track shoe by bolts or other suitable fastening means.

FIG. 11 illustrates a-variation of the FIGS. 9 and 10 embodiment whereinbolts 29d are releasably attached to conically shaped supports 300 inlieu of the rivets 29c.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate an embodiment wherein a support means orflange 30e, formed integrally with cross-grouser 31c, is attached to theunderside of flat surface portion 36a of track shoe 23e by bolt means29e. The cross-grouser is disposed in perpendicular relationshiprelative to primary grouser 32c and extends fully across surface portion362. A link 25c may be suitably attached to each of the track shoes bysuitable bolts or the like (not shown).

FIG. 14 illustrates a support means 30f attached to flat surface portion36f of a track shoe 23f by suitable inertia welding techniques or thelike. A cross-grouser primary grouser 32f. The cross-grouser isintersected by an integrally formed third grouser 31 disposed inparallel relationship with respect to grouser 32f at right anglesrelative to the cross-grouser. The cross-shaped grouser arrangement31f-31f presents a substantial side area to resist lateral movement ofthe cushioned track regardless of the degree of rotation afforded to theone-piece grouser unit during securance thereof to the track shoe byweld means.

The FIG. embodiment comprises two ninety degree angles welded togetherat their corners and further welded at their bottom support portions tosurface 36g of track shoe 23g. The cross-grouser thus comprises the twosubstantially aligned portions 313 whereas a third grouser, disposedperpendicularly relative to the cross-grouser, comprises aligned angleportions 31g.

What is claimed is:

l. A cushioned track comprising an annular resilient spacer meansmounted for rotation about a central axis thereof, and

an endless track assembly mounted separately around said spacer means,said track assembly comprising a plurality of closely coupledground-engaging shoes circumferentially surrounding said spacer meansand an annular articulated link assembly positioned on each side of saidspacer means and connected to said shoes to closely couple themtogether, each of said link assemblies comprising a plurality of linksand pivot means pivotally connecting each circumferentially adjacentpair of links together, at least some of said shoes having at least oneprimary grouser secured to outer surface portions thereof to extendradially outwardly therefrom and laterally in the direction of saidcentral axis substantially fully across the width of said shoe, at leastone removable secondary grouser secured to each shoe having a primarygrouser secured thereto, said secondary grouser positioned adjacent toat least one lateral end of said shoe and on said shoe to extendradially outwardly therefrom and approximately perpendicular relative toa respective primary grouser to define substantial surface area means onsaid secondary grouser extending at least one-half of the distanceacross the circumferential length of a respective shoe, for resistinglateral movement of said cushioned track in the direction of its centralaxis during rotation and operation thereof, and

common bolt means extending through an integral portion of each one ofsaid secondary grousers and a respective shoe releasably attaching suchsecondary grouser and shoe to a respective link.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprises a pinpivotally connecting each adjacent pair of said links together; thelongitudinal axis of each pin is positioned substantially parallelrelative to said cen- .tral axis and further positioned substantiallyintermediate a pair of adjacent shoes and further comprising curved andcomplementary lug means formed on each length-wise end of each shoe tobe at least substantially parallel with respect to said central axis andpositioned thereon to continuously and completely overlap a lug means ofan adjacent shoe whereby the entire periphery of said spacer means iscompletely masked during rotation thereof.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shoes have widths definingoutboard portions extending a substantially equal lateral distancebeyond a respective one of the side walls of said spacer means, each ofsaid link assemblies connected to a res ective one of said shoesoutboard portions closely a acent to a respective one of said sideportions of said spacer means and wherein inner surface portions of eachof said shoes are substantially flat and uninterrupted and only oneprimary grouser is secured to each shoe and positioned radiallyoutwardly from and closely adjacent to the pivot means for eachconnected, adjacent pair of links.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said primary grouser is at leastslightly higher in a radial outward direction than said secondarygrouser.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein only one of said primary grousersand only one of said secondary grousers are secured to each of saidshoes.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein only one of said primary grousersand only two of said secondary grousers are secured to each shoe, eachsecondary grouser of each pair of secondary grousers positioned adjacentto a respective width-wise end of each shoe.

7. The invention of claim 1 further comprising support means and whereinsaid bolt means attaches said support means to a respective one of saidshoes, said secondary grouser formed as an integral part of said supportmeans.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said bolt means secures said supportmeans and one of said links to a respective shoe.

9. The invention of claim 7 wherein said securing means secures saidsupport means only to a respective shoe.

10. The invention of claim 7 wherein said securing means comprises threeof said bolt means disposed in triangular relationship with respect toeach other.

11. The invention of claim 7 wherein outer surface portions of said shoeare flat and said support means comprises a flat plate portion abuttingand secured to said outer surface portions.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said plate portion is triangularand a bolt means is located at each corner of said plate portion forsecuring said plate portion and one of said links to a respective shoe.

13. The invention of claim 11 wherein two aligned bolt means aredisposed substantially perpendicular relative to said primary grouserand secure said plate portion and one of said links to a respectiveshoe.

1. A cushioned track comprising an annular resilient spacer meansmounted for rotation about a central axis thereof, and an endless trackassembly mounted separately around said spacer means, said trackassembly comprising a plurality of closely coupled ground-engaging shoescircumferentially surrounding said spacer means and an annulararticulated link assembly positioned on each side of said spacer meansand connected to said shoes to closely couple them together, each ofsaid link assemblies comprising a plurality of links and pivot meanspivotally connecting each circumferentially adjacent pair of linkstogether, at least some of said shoes having at least one primarygrouser secured to outer surface portions thereof to extend radiallyoutwardly therefrom and laterally in the direction of said central axissubstantially fully across the width of said shoe, at least oneremovable secondary grouser secured to each shoe having a primarygrouser secured thereto, said secondary grouser positioNed adjacent toat least one lateral end of said shoe and on said shoe to extendradially outwardly therefrom and approximately perpendicular relative toa respective primary grouser to define substantial surface area means onsaid secondary grouser extending at least one-half of the distanceacross the circumferential length of a respective shoe, for resistinglateral movement of said cushioned track in the direction of its centralaxis during rotation and operation thereof, and common bolt meansextending through an integral portion of each one of said secondarygrousers and a respective shoe releasably attaching such secondarygrouser and shoe to a respective link.
 1. A cushioned track comprisingan annular resilient spacer means mounted for rotation about a centralaxis thereof, and an endless track assembly mounted separately aroundsaid spacer means, said track assembly comprising a plurality of closelycoupled ground-engaging shoes circumferentially surrounding said spacermeans and an annular articulated link assembly positioned on each sideof said spacer means and connected to said shoes to closely couple themtogether, each of said link assemblies comprising a plurality of linksand pivot means pivotally connecting each circumferentially adjacentpair of links together, at least some of said shoes having at least oneprimary grouser secured to outer surface portions thereof to extendradially outwardly therefrom and laterally in the direction of saidcentral axis substantially fully across the width of said shoe, at leastone removable secondary grouser secured to each shoe having a primarygrouser secured thereto, said secondary grouser positioNed adjacent toat least one lateral end of said shoe and on said shoe to extendradially outwardly therefrom and approximately perpendicular relative toa respective primary grouser to define substantial surface area means onsaid secondary grouser extending at least one-half of the distanceacross the circumferential length of a respective shoe, for resistinglateral movement of said cushioned track in the direction of its centralaxis during rotation and operation thereof, and common bolt meansextending through an integral portion of each one of said secondarygrousers and a respective shoe releasably attaching such secondarygrouser and shoe to a respective link.
 2. The invention of claim 1wherein said pivot means comprises a pin pivotally connecting eachadjacent pair of said links together, the longitudinal axis of each pinis positioned substantially parallel relative to said central axis andfurther positioned substantially intermediate a pair of adjacent shoesand further comprising curved and complementary lug means formed on eachlength-wise end of each shoe to be at least substantially parallel withrespect to said central axis and positioned thereon to continuously andcompletely overlap a lug means of an adjacent shoe whereby the entireperiphery of said spacer means is completely masked during rotationthereof.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shoes have widthsdefining outboard portions extending a substantially equal lateraldistance beyond a respective one of the side walls of said spacer means,each of said link assemblies connected to a respective one of saidshoe''s outboard portions closely adjacent to a respective one of saidside portions of said spacer means and wherein inner surface portions ofeach of said shoes are substantially flat and uninterrupted and only oneprimary grouser is secured to each shoe and positioned radiallyoutwardly from and closely adjacent to the pivot means for eachconnected, adjacent pair of links.
 4. The invention of claim 1 whereinsaid primary grouser is at least slightly higher in a radial outwarddirection than said secondary grouser.
 5. The invention of claim 1wherein only one of said primary grousers and only one of said secondarygrousers are secured to each of said shoes.
 6. The invention of claim 1wherein only one of said primary grousers and only two of said secondarygrousers are secured to each shoe, each secondary grouser of each pairof secondary grousers positioned adjacent to a respective width-wise endof each shoe.
 7. The invention of claim 1 further comprising supportmeans and wherein said bolt means attaches said support means to arespective one of said shoes, said secondary grouser formed as anintegral part of said support means.
 8. The invention of claim 7 whereinsaid bolt means secures said support means and one of said links to arespective shoe.
 9. The invention of claim 7 wherein said securing meanssecures said support means only to a respective shoe.
 10. The inventionof claim 7 wherein said securing means comprises three of said boltmeans disposed in triangular relationship with respect to each other.11. The invention of claim 7 wherein outer surface portions of said shoeare flat and said support means comprises a flat plate portion abuttingand secured to said outer surface portions.
 12. The invention of claim11 wherein said plate portion is triangular and a bolt means is locatedat each corner of said plate portion for securing said plate portion andone of said links to a respective shoe.